The ground-hog use of animism in prophesy was invented in northern Europe as a method orthodox protestants used to retain as many elements of Candlemas Feast and Prophesies on the 40th day of Christmas which is the midpoint between the winter and summer solstices . Small “t” Catholic tradition holds that if it rains or the weather is unfavorable on Candlemas day –Spring ( and hence Eastertide preparations) will come early